I'm So Tired

"I'm So Tired" is a song by The Beatles from their double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album). It was written and sung by John Lennon, though credited to Lennon–McCartney.

Composition

Lennon wrote the song at a Transcendental Meditation camp when he could not sleep. The Beatles had gone on a retreat to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India. After three weeks of constant meditation and lectures, Lennon missed his soon-to-be wife, Yoko Ono, and was plagued by insomnia that inspired the song. Lennon later said of it: "One of my favourite tracks. I just like the sound of it, and I sing it well".^[1]

The theme of insomnia complements Lennon's earlier song "I'm Only Sleeping" on the Revolver album.

Recording

An early demo of the song was recorded at George Harrison's Esher home, in May 1968. It was basically identical to the released version, in terms of verse, but it does include a spoken section reminiscent of a similar section in "Happiness Is A Warm Gun". It goes as such:

When I hold you, in your arms,

When you show me, each one of your charms,

I wonder should I get up, and go to the funny farm.

No, no, no!

This section was probably improvised at the time, as it was never used again. The song was recorded on 8 October 1968 and was completed including all overdubs in this one session.^[2] The Beatles also started and completed "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" during the same recording session.^[2] The chorus of the monaural mix of the song features louder backing vocals from Paul McCartney than the stereo mix.

"Paul is dead" conspiracy

See also: Paul is dead

At the very end of the song, what seems to be nonsensical mumbling can be heard in the background. The mumbling, if played backward can be quite easily heard as something along the lines of "Paul is a dead man. Miss him. Miss him. Miss him."^[3] This only adds to the many supposed references to the "Paul is dead" conspiracy scattered throughout the White album.

Cover versions

• Elliott Smith covered the song during several live performances.
• Alex Chilton recorded the song in 1975, during sessions that would eventually be released as Bach's Bottom in 1981.
• You Am I covered the song on their Jaimme's Got A Gal single in 1994.
• Say Hi covered the song on their 2004 album Numbers & Mumbles.
• Orquesta Mondragón covered the song on their 2010 album El Maquinista de la General.
• Silverchair covered the song on their Young Modern Tour.
• Kasabian covered the song at the Little Noise Sessions in 2006.

Personnel

• John Lennon – lead vocal, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, organ
• Paul McCartney – bass guitar, electric piano, backing vocal
• George Harrison – lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums

Personnel per Ian MacDonald^[4]

Notes

References

• Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-57066-1. 
• MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). ISBN 1-844-13828-3. 
• Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-25464-4. 

External links

• Backmasking Site